Listen to audio story here:

We’re now heading to Calico Basin Road, for a very special boardwalk, and an awesome trail around Red Rock Canyon, in the Calico Hills.

But first, it’s story-time!... and this is the tale of Fairy Shrimp in the desert! 

Whenever there’s a big rain, water gathers in some of the pockets in the mountain rocks, creating little pools where Fairy Shrimp come out to play. I’m not kidding! It’s true! They hatch from eggs that may have been lying dormant in the dried-up sand for decades! These are translucent little creatures, about the size of your fingernail, but they’re as real as shrimp can be! Keep this in mind when you’re walking the trails. Because in the sand around you could be tiny eggs with fairy shrimp inside, just waiting for the next good rainstorm to hatch. So tread lightly.

Pretty fascinating, huh?! Shrimp – that materialize out of nowhere – in the middle of the desert! Whooo! Will wonders never cease?

Now, get ready to turn left onto Calico Basin Road.

Interested? Be sure to check out our Red Rock Canyon tour!